Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan Established Innovation Center at Northern and Southern Region of Malaysia

Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan Established Innovation Center at Northern and Southern Region of Malaysia

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan is actively promoting the “New Southbound Policy” to encourage collaboration between local academic institutions and the 18 targeted countries under the said policy to enhance the substantial cooperation and technological innovation exchange through pluralistic and flexible approach. With the support from MOST, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) forms an alliance with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) by establishing Innovation Center for Clean Water and Sustainable Energy (WISE) at Northern and Southern Regions of Malaysia to pursue technological innovation and internationalization of science and technology.

▲ Picture taken during the WISE opening ceremony at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor as head quarter.

The Vice President, Prof. Sinn-Wen Chen, and International College Dean, Prof. Ruey-an Doong, NTHU have visited Malaysia to officiate the ceremony of WISE, and signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the top university in Malaysia last April 24-27, 2019. The official ceremony of the “Taiwan-Malaysia Innovation Centre for Clean Water and Sustainable Energy (WISE)” was first held on 24 April 2019 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor as WISE’s head quarter in Malaysia. Afterwards, a ceremony in Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Perlis was held on 25 April 2019 as WISE’s branch office. On the 26th April 2019, NTHU delegates signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. During the officiation ceremonies at UTM and UniMAP, NTHU Senior Vice President Prof. Sinn-Wen Chen mentioned that the establishment of the Overseas Innovation Center will closely integrate the innovative research capabilities in the field of clean water and sustainable energy, and promote relevant technologies to all targeted countries under New Southbound Policy. In addition to thanking the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan for the financial support, the UTM International Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Nordin Yahaya, and USM Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) Prof. Ahmad Farhan bin Mohd Sadullah mentioned the importance of the establishment of WISE to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia. The establishment of WISE will bring both countries closer together in achieving the SDG, and in enhancing the technological innovation.

▲ Picture taken during the opening ceremony held at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Perlis as branch office of Innovation Center for Clean Water and Sustainable Energy (WISE).

Malaysia is one of the proponents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and it is ranking as second highest economy with the best geographic and strategic location in Southeast Asia. Malaysia also maintained its strong position globally. The Malaysian government is actively promoting prospective research in the fields of food safety, water safety, green energy and biomedical. It is believed that the continuous promotion of WISE’s offices in Malaysia located at the southern Malaysia (as head quarter) will enable us to communicate with countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, while the office located at the northern region can quickly provide access to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and South Asian countries. Employing the innovative cooperation models, WISE will help in creating a platform to establish the hub-center with alliances in the higher learning institutions with the industries located in Southeast Asia and South Asian regions for the development of innovative research and industry-university technological exchange in the field of clean water technology, sustainable energy development and environmental friendly advanced materials. With this, it can enhance the Taiwan status in the global stage to achieve the sustainable development goals in Southeast Asia and South Asian countries.